The Quran for Spiritual Seekers: A Telecourse in June

1.

The garden shall be brought near, for the God-conscious, not far. This is what you are promised, for everyone who returns, who preserves. Who is in awe of the Compassionate in the Unseen and comes with a heart constantly seeking. Enter it in peace, this is the time of abiding. In it is what they will and We have more. How many a generation before them who were mightier than they have We caused to perish? Seek then throughout the land, is there any refuge? Indeed in this is remembrance for one who has a heart, one who listens while witnessing. ~ Quran, Qaf 31-37

2.

THE QURAN, a book which brings glad tidings to mankind along with divine admonition, stresses the importance of man’s discovery of truth on both spiritual and intellectual planes. Every book has its objective and the objective of the Quran is to make man aware of the Creation plan of God. That is, to tell man why God created this world; what the purpose is of settling man on earth; what is required from man in his pre-death life span, and what he is going to confront after death. The purpose of the Quran is to make man aware of this reality, thus serving to guide man on his entire journey through life into the after-life.

The main themes of the Quran are enlightenment, closeness to God, peace and spirituality. The Quran uses several terms, tawassum, tadabbur, and tafakkur, which indicate the learning of lessons through reflection, thinking and contemplation on the signs of God scattered across the world.

- From introduction of a contemporary translation of the Quran by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

3.

Baraka Institute (California, USA) which has part of it's vision to serve the spiritual needs of humanity through honoring and illuminating: the living spiritual legacy within Islamic tradition, the divine revelation that is the touchstone of true wisdom and spiritual practice that is the means of developing human souls. As part of its mission it develop programs for the education of the heart and encourage the learning of Quranic Arabic as a vehicle for spiritual wisdom. 

Baraka Institute is a non-sectarian community of spiritual seekers which believe deeply that the spiritual legacy of enlightened Islam has a contribution to make to the global community. Transformation through spiritual experience is the heart and soul of the Institute. The use of this word, transformation is meant to give a fresh perspective. The “transformation” that is meant here is the movement from an egoic mentality to a soul consciousness. God does not change a people’s condition until they change themselves. The egoic state is absorbed in “my” advantage, “my” family, country, or religion. It perceives through opposition, conflict, defensiveness, and ultimately leads to the misuse of resources and power. Egoic consciousness corrupts religion, and everything it touches. The soul consciousness, on the other hand, perceives others as souls in process, serves all of life and humanity, and keeps the Divine always at the center. This is made possible by higher consciousness, spiritual practice, and communion with others committed to the same ideal.

As part of its program, come this June, Baraka Institute is offering an international telecourse: The Quran for Spiritual Seekers, accessible to any one, from any where in the world based on telephone conference call and also parallel communication over the internet via email and podcasting.

I have wanted for a long time to share my enthusiasm for the Qur’an and the truth that can be found in it when it is approached without too many preconceptions. With my dear friend and colleague, Mahmoud Mostafa, we would like to explore what the Qur’an says about the deeper matters of the spiritual life. In other words, what does it say to those who have committed themselves to the spiritual journey? - Shaikh Kabir Helminski

International Teleseminar & eCourse

This course will offer four live one hour sessions (using telephone conference calls), 5 selections a week by email from the Qur’an with commentaries, and an online “practice circle” to engage with a community of seekers from around the world.  Classes will also be recorded and available online as podcasts.

The course will be offered on two either Monday evenings or Tuesday mornings.

When:  June 6th - 27th, 2011
Monday evenings: 5:30-6:30 PM, Pacific Time

Alternatively, June 7th - 28th, 2011
Tuesday mornings at 11:00-12:00 AM, Pacific Time (7 PM in UK)

To learn more about the eCourse and registration, visit the Quran for Spiritual Seekers TeleCourse site.

Read more about Baraka Institute at http://www.barakainstitute.org/about-2/


4.
"Read the Qur'an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection.''

"The believer who recites the Qur'an is like a citron whose fragrance is sweet and whose taste is delicious. A believer who does not recite the Qur'an is like a date-fruit which has no fragrance but has a sweet taste."

"The one who was devoted to the the Qur'an will be told on the Day of Resurrection: 'Recite and ascend (in ranks) as you used to recite when you were in the world.'"

"Divine tranquility (sakina) descends as a result of the recitation of the Qur'an.''

- Sayings of the Final Prophet, may Divine peace and blessings be upon him and his holy family in abundance until the end of time

"Those who recite the Book of Allah, establish regular prayer, and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for commerce that will never fail" - the Quran, Surah Fatir 35:29

I am the servant of the Qur'an as long as I have life.
I am the dust on the path of Muhammad, the Chosen one.
- Rumi


5.
Gift of God's Words

In conjunction with Baraka Institute's program, Technology of the Heart (MysticSaint.info) is making an offering of donating copy of the Quran to spiritual seekers who, God willing, wish to experience the Quran and drink from its fountain of wisdom and guidance. With this intention we have chosen to donate copies of the Quran, Transliterated and Translated in English by Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee. English text edited by Hajja Noura Durkee, with Arabic text hand-written by Munshi Muhammad Sharif and orthography by 'Ustadh Zafar 'Iqbal. It is one of the best translation and transliterated copy of Quran and a guide for non-Arabic readers to the pronunciation of the original text and to understanding some of the meanings revealed in the Glorious Qur’an.

The Hadiyah of each copy of the Quran is 33.33 USD. Anybody donating equivalent amount of money, we will complement the shipping cost worldwide for the copies to be sent.

Click below to donate minimum 33.33 USD or any multiplier of the same. May Allah accept and bless your donations.

# Resources:
* Homepage of Baraka University
* The Transliterated Tajwidi Quran the Quran via  Green Mountain School website
* Rumi's Use of the Qur’an and Hadith (Prophetic Traditions) by Nargis Virani
* Female perspective of the Quran, a talk by Quranic scholar Amina Wadud
* The Relationship between the Mathnawi and the Qur'an